Defense: No Prison For Ex-SC Trooper Seen On Tape
Attorneys for a former South Carolina trooper caught on video kicking a suspect in the head after a highway chase say their client should not serve time in prison.
Published: June 1, 2009
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Attorneys for a former South Carolina trooper caught on video kicking a suspect in the head after a highway chase say their client should not serve time in prison.
Attorneys for John B. Sawyer argue in recent court documents that publicity about their client’s case could mean Sawyer would be abused in prison.
Sawyer was indicted after the state released a May 2006 video that showed him kicking Sergio Caridi in the head. Caridi had led officers on a chase on Interstate 95 in a dump truck.
Sawyer has pleaded guilty to violating Caridi’s civil rights. The New York man also sued Sawyer for excessive force.
Sawyer faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced next week, although federal guidelines recommend he serve less than two years.
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Okay, lets see. The defense is worried about the trooper getting “abused” in prison. Isnt what he did to that man abuse? The law clearly states that if convicted of a crime, you must face punishment of some sort o fit the crime. He kicked the man in the head, and in doing so violated his civil rights. Not to mention assault. If they had the man down, then there was no need. But hey, theres a precedence here. That poor trooper was in the heat of the moment. He had to make sure the guy was down. Oh wait, but their still trying to get a murder conviction or the drug store clerk that made sure the guy who tried to rib him was gonna stay down too. Hmmm. Theres a dilemma. Of course though, our Civil Servants are suposed to hold a much higher standard. Either way, the clerk will get life, the trooper will get off just like that Richmond County Deputy that opened fire and murdered that guy in the SUV in Augusta. Hey, they got a thin blue line to protect. What to do?
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